December 2011
Dear Parents,
The year is almost over! It’s hard to believe and realize that the 2012 year will go by even quicker!
Thank you for being patient with all the many schedule changes. I’m still checking daily to make sure that I am at the right place at the right time. We should begin the New Year with a stable schedule.
Please refer to Mrs. Nardulli’s calendar.
Next week we will be learning and reviewing for our testing that will take place December 14 and 15.
It will be an accumulation of all facts and information learned since August. The best way to prepare for it is to get plenty of sleep, a good breakfast, and study BASIC FACTS NOW!
If you have put away the flash cards thinking that they were mastered in first grade, bring them back out and practice! Math is like a foreign language, you forget it if you don’t use it.
AR goals need to be met. Please give your child a personal goal of completing their goal before the last week of school! Those four days are filled with unexpected barriers. Students should understand that any AR book they read should take less than a week. Most students can read a book each night and take a test in the morning.
Response to Literature projects are due December 15. Please write the response in published form. It does not need to be typed. It does need to meet ideas, organizational and convention skills. A rubric was attached to the recent Charlotte’s Web response. Please let me know if you need another rubric.
Many thanks to all of the help I’ve received in the classroom. There are so many obligations to insure your child’s success, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Daws, Mrs. Materan, Mrs. Mudgett, Mrs. Nardulli, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, and Mrs. Rousell help on a weekly basis. Please forgive me if I have left off your name in error.
Once again, please call me if there are any questions. I know that all parents are helping at home with your child’s learning because of the great success they are achieving.

Julie Poe

The past three weeks have been full of learning and getting to know eachother. I love the way the students respond to writing in their agendas. After Labor Day, the students will complete their agendas with upcoming important dates.
I hope everyone received thier September rotation calendar.
I especially look forward to Open House on September 13.
Thank you for sharing your children with me. I look forward to work everyday. Have a safe and restful "Labor Day".

Dear Parents,
Welcome to second grade! We are excited to be working with your children this year. We know it will be successful. The following is a list of general information regarding Ford policies and our classrooms:
SCHOOL HOURS: 7:50 – 2:15p.m.
TRANSPORTATION: For the safety of your children, changes in transportation must be in writing. Please put a note in the daily homework folder and remind your child in the morning of the transportation change.
HOMEWORK: Your children will be given homework Monday – Thursday every week. Please make sure you go over and check all homework before sending it back to school. By initialing or signing the agenda daily, you are confirming you’ve checked over and corrected homework, if needed. All homework questions will be answered during morning procedures.
ABSENCES/MAKE-UP WORK: If your child is absent for two or more days due to an excused absence, please call your teacher’s personal phone number to request work. If your child has an unexcused absence, make-up work will be given when he/she returns to school.
BIRTHDAYS: You may send in cupcakes, cookies, or pre-cut servings of cake or other treats to celebrate your child’s birthday. Please do not send in drinks or party favors.
LABELING: Please write your child’s name on his/her backpack, lunch box, folders, school box, and any other school supplies brought to school.
SNACK: The children will have a daily snack. Please send in a nutritious snack with your child every day. Water bottles are permitted. Please do not send in other drinks.
LUNCH: Student lunches are $1.65. Milk is $0.50. Breakfast is $1.00. Adult lunches are $2.75.
VISITORS: All visitors, including parent volunteers must sign in at the computer located outside the main office. Visitors must obtain a name tag before entering hallways. This is for the safety of the children.
PTSA: At Ford, we are very fortunate to have a wonderful, supportive PTSA. Both parents and children are encouraged to join PTSA. Membership fees are $6.00 per person. PLEASE support our PTSA!
The FORD PTSA handbook has important information for you to read and is available online at Ford’s homepage.
Your child will be bringing home a Cobb County folder. Please make sure you read through it, sign, and return the sheet stating you have received and read the information in the folder.
Having your support is very important. If we work together as a team, we can provide your child many opportunities to learn and succeed. If you ever have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher via e-mail, note, or phone call. Julie.poe@cobbk12.org
Sincerely,
Second Grade Teachers

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I have been working in the classroom and getting it ready for my Second Graders!

This is a notice from the Science Lab. I wanted to pass it along to you.

As you prepare your beginning of the school year information, would you please pass along the following to your students and their parents.


All students will need a plastic folder with prongs, any color. Students should bring these each time they come to science lab.
On Science Lab days, students should wear tennis shoes.


The following Science Lab supplies were mistakenly omitted from the supply list-


Kindergarten- 1 roll of paper towels
1st grade- 1 package clorox wipes
2nd grade- 1 package disposable cups, any size
3rd grade-1 dozen pencils with latex-free erasers
4th grade-(girls) 2 large glue sticks, (boys) 1 package wide-ruled notebook paper
5th grade- 2 size D batteries




Thank you so kindly!
Colleen Cauffiel

Dear Parents,
The time is quickly approaching for reporting 3rd quarter grades. This week we will be taking assessments to insure that all students have mastered their third quarter standards.
As always, the student s give me their best daily. Also, through guided reading and guided math lessons we are able to check on understanding of concepts before we move on to new concepts.
Here are a few reminders that students can work towards:
o Add and Subtract Math facts to 18 for mastery I’m looking for 30 problems in 3 minutes.
 Blake Daws has already mastered the 100 problems in 5 minutes.
o Money and Coins including bills to $20.00. Key words to remember “Fair Trade”.
o Clock time – hour and ½ hour.
o Geometric Shapes, identified by how many sides and what shape is made on the flat side.
o Write a “Homerun Sentence” This includes the who, what, where, and why that you are expressing.
o Spelling Words:
This includes days of the week, months of the year, color words, number words, and digit words 0 though 10.
Monday you will receive the information for our zoo field trip on Wednesday, March 23. Please return it to me as soon as possible.

February 2, 2011
Dear Parents,
The New Year is quickly turning into another year. I feel as if I haven’t spent enough time with the children. Everyone should mark their calendars for the “Snow Make-up Days”. Today is one of those make-up days and March 18 is scheduled as a student school day as well.
Our Winter Break, Feb. 21 – Feb. 25. and Spring Break, April 4, - April 8, remain in place.
Thursday, 2-3-2011, I am sending home a packet for the students to complete at home. This is OPTIONAL! However, I will reward the students that complete the project with a score of 70 or more using the provided rubric.

Please wear red on the 4th for the HEART!

Class picture will be taken Tuesday, Feb. 8th. Bring your best smile. This is for the yearbook!

Don’t forget the Valentine Dance on Feb. 11, 6:00 – 8:00. FREE! FUN!!

Valentine cards can be exchanged in class, Monday, Feb. 14. I will send home a class list. Please include all students if you decide to participate. Students will exchange cards in the morning before students leave for Mrs. Kennedy.

We have a KSU student assigned to our classroom through April 29. She will visit our classroom once a week. Mrs. White has her undergraduate degree in counseling and would like to follow her love and passion with children through teaching. I am looking forward to working with her.
There is no way I can possibly thank Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Kardulli, Mrs. Grant, and Mrs. Richa for all of the help they provide. I love to teach! These wonderful parents come in and do the time consuming duties. They make my job wonderful! Another huge shout out to Mrs. Shepherd and the dedicated parents that come in and read to the students. Your children are so proud of the time you give them in the classroom. Also, Ms. Me Me, Annie’s grandmother, for making the jackets for the chairs. This helps so much with keeping the students organized.
What: Mad Science Night
When: Tuesday, February 8th - 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: Ford Elementary School
Why attend?
1. The evening will be educational, fun and hands-on
2. Get more details how to participate in the upcoming Science Fair (award winners will be announced at Curriculum Night in March!)
3. Learn how Ford's focus on science has impacted test scores
4. Find out how you can support science and technology at Ford Elementary
5. Mrs. Poe will give a prize to every student that attends and participates with 3 events!!

Cobb Commissioner Helen Goreham and Lynnda Crowder-Eagle, our school board member, have scheduled a Town Hall Meeting together for Thursday, February 10, 7:00 pm, West Cobb Senior Center, 4915 Dallas Highway. Everyone in the Ford community is invited to attend.

Mrs. Poe’s Math Challenge:
I will give any child in my class a reward to Bruster’s Ice Cream when they can correctly answer 100 mixed addition and subtraction problems within 5 minutes. .
Flash cards, daily drills, and using the programs on my blog may provide the help that is needed. If you have any questions on ways to help your child achieve this, please contact me. 770-330-6033

2011
Welcome back!
I have missed all of my sweet children and fabulous parents.
Please be prepared to begin the New Year with that great "Can Do" attitude.
Being prepared with the right supplies will enable your child to feel more comfortable. Yes, please relocate those blue and red folders.

A new reading log will be sent home on Tuesday. FYI, 10 minutes for each grade level. The 15 minute suggested time is for students reading on a 1.5 reading level. If your child is reading on a 2.5 grade level, they should be reading 25 minutes daily.
Writing journals will improve their writing skills and basic math facts can be sharpened by playing games with cards, puzzles, and board games. Computer driven games have a place in learning for quickness, however, board games, puzzles, and cards improve their logic and reasoning skills.

Mrs. Millican and Mrs. Kennedy would like to invite newly qualified Target students to attend an orientation, Thursday, January 6th, 2011 beginning at 6:30PM in the Media Center.
Students should also be prepared for Monday's first class with the following:
• 2 pocket folder with prongs
• Some notebook paper
• Pen – any color but black
• Sharpened pencils with good erasers
• Lunch or lunch money
• A nutritious snack (optional)

There are no assigned spelling words this week. We will review all previously learned words.
Report Cards will be distributed on Friday, January 7, 2010.